NBA Rumors: Bulls’ Jimmy Butler On The Trading Block This Summer?

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

As a rising star in the NBA, Jimmy Butler is arguably the best all-around player on the Chicago Bulls. Derrick Rose has fallen off over the last few years due to persistent knee injuries while Pau Gasol remains an All-Star-caliber player, but no longer young enough to build a franchise on.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, Butler and new head coach Fred Hoiberg don’t exactly see eye-to-eye. The discord between the two is bad enough to see Butler part ways with the team this summer with quite a few teams potentially interested in prying him away from Chicago.

According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical, the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic could be two teams battling it out for Butler:

Indeed, no one is untouchable. The palace intrigue that surrounded Butler and Hoiberg prompted several teams to inquire about Butler’s availability at the trade deadline. Though they were rebuffed, several rival executives told The Vertical they intend to try again. Boston was among the teams trying to pry away Butler in February, and several executives point to Orlando, with its treasure trove of young players and defensive-minded head coach, as a team to watch closely in the pursuit of Butler.

The Bulls have gone from one of the most promising teams in the Eastern Conference and potentially the team with enough talent to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers to a team that may miss the playoffs entirely this year.

Chicago is barely holding onto .500 right now with a 37-37 record while setting their sights on competing for the eighth seed in the East. The Indiana Pacers (37-35) and Detroit Pistons (40-35) sit ahead of the Bulls in the conference standings with only a seven games left to go.

If the Bulls fail to make the postseason, Butler may have ultimately played his last game for Chicago. Butler could be the biggest name on the trade market this summer, and if he leaves, the Bulls may have to start from scratch again.